Palace of Culture and Science
Warsaw, Poland

HEIGHT: 231m/757 feet
FLOORS: 42 floors
COMPLETION: 1955
ARCHITECT: Lev Rudniev

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/palaceofculandsci01.jpeg

http://www.sky.s64.pl/home/Wwa/pkin05.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/palaceofculandsci02.jpeg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/palaceofculandsci03.jpeg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/palaceofculandscinight.jpeg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/palaceofculandsci04.jpeg

The Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science (Pa³ac Kultury i Nauki) was a controversial gift from the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to the people of Warsaw in Poland, which, at the time (the 1950s), was a satellite state of the USSR. It is a huge concrete neo-gothic block adjacent to Warsaw Central Station, which has a unique beauty of its own, and this ambivalence is reflected in the attitude of the native Varsovians to the building which is the subject of a love-hate relationship.

Initially the building was called 'Stalin's Palace' (Pa³ac imienia Stalina) until it was renamed in the late 1950s. It currently serves as an exhibiton center and as an office park. The terrace on the 35th floor is a well-known tourist attraction giving a nice view of the city.

7/10

It looks like it could be bigger and better.

7,5/10 it is not very nice architecture, but it has became a symbol of Warsaw.

Like those neo-gothic TYPE things. 8/10

9/10

extraodinarily beautiful!!!

5/10 for the building
10/10 FOR HONDA! WHOO;)

On no , not this !!
It spoils my eyes , I get a headache of this monster :(

9/10. One of my favorite buildings of all times.

Looks very communist...

Sunflower
Whot

Empire State, Chrysler...very communist? oh no...

The inspiration for the Palace of Culture, and indeed the similar looking buildings in Moscow, was none other than the Empire State Building.

The Palace of Culture is a bit more unique in that the architect, though Russian, went around Poland incorporating elements of traditional Polish architecture into it. Examples include the pointy decorative elements [inspirited by the Renaissance town of Zamosc] and the Congress Hall, whose architectural details are from traditional Polish Manor Houses.

This thing has grown on me... I used to hate it but now it's a bit more tolerable. 8.5/10 is what it's worth in my book :)

Love the clock tower and spire at the top, tops off the building well, and the facade is good too.

The shape needs working on.

7/10

I like this old style! It´s a part of Warsaw- I love it

Arghhhh i hate this building !!! a 3 ! and then i'm being friendly !!

cool . . but that spire looks like it was made out of legos and some foil .. SPIRES CHEAT!!! . . .4/10

I really like the 1950's/Communist Bloc allure of it. Hell, even if it didn't have that spire or those wings, I'd still love the building.

8.5

looking good :okay:

8/10

7/10 - The basic idea of the massing is good, and there is some good detail work on the facade, especially the crowns of the towers. The only thing that looks out of place there is that spire, because it doesn' quite fit the rest of the building.

But it's too short and stocky - not much height at all.

Nice one. . .but less imposing than the Moscow State University, which appears to be a larger complex. 8/10

for most Poles, such as my parents, this is a cold reminder of the communist struggle that was in the country for so long, not to mention all the innocent people that died. unfourtunately it was built on a square kilometre concrete base so it wouldnt sink into the ground, and it is built so solidly that it would be almost immpossible to take the thing down.

i doubt this was inspired by the ESB, since communists hated the western democratic world.

i give this building a 0, though it does stand as a testament to a time we would not want to return to.

8 /10
I like this old skyscraper

7/10 nice

It pains my eyes, awefull.

3/10

I love this tower in warsaws skyline.
Only the top is not that good.
8.5/10

10 Oh, this building is awesome... Warsaw's jewel! Great neo-gothic style... this building looks very cold, dark, oppressive and evil... very elaborate building... great facade...

only thing is that the spire is a bit excessive

6/10

This ones a true classic.. I just like it! :)

8.5/10

8/10. Its very nice for its age and its setting. A good attempt definitely. :)

4, looks depressing to me

Say what you want, but this is a beautiful building IMO.

8/10

too communistic 3/10. i would call this even a real scraper

Originally posted by il fenomeno

too communistic 3/10. i would call this even a real scraper

Don't make me laugh!

Originally posted by drowned.world

Don't make me laugh!
im just spamming to get my posts back. cant you see?!
anyway its still an ugly piece of crap. does this make you laugh now?

Communistic is not an architectural style, nor is it a word. So technically, you're full of crap.

you are right i looked it up. communistic is not a word, it should be "communist". well, english is not my first language, but do i blame you for not knowing a thing about girls, legio?
however communist can be much, even an architectural style.
once again, its ugly. period.

Originally posted by il fenomeno
do i blame you for not knowing a thing about girls, legio?


you wish you knew as much as I did :) being gay has it's perks... anyways, back to the thread.

Palace of Culture, yay!

Originally posted by il fenomeno

you are right i looked it up. communistic is not a word, it should be "communist". well, english is not my first language, but do i blame you for not knowing a thing about girls, legio?
however communist can be much, even an architectural style.
once again, its ugly. period.

This style is called "Neohistorism" [AKA Stalinistic Style] :D

10/10

I've heard it's called socialist realism as well was Stalinist Neo-Historicism :)

Thats the only thing that i like from that era - buildings :D

7.5/10 Stalin's best influence? :)

I don't know how to rate it :moods:
I really like it because of its architecture, but I don't like its history...
So, maybe 7.5/10?

I just love this building! I love "Neohistorism" (thanks Kommentare)

9/10

I get a littlebit depressed of this style. This building looks better at nigth imo. 6/10

8/10

8.5

The pictures don't give it justice. It is immense (not just vertically, but has outlaying structures that make it seem like a stone christmas tree of sorts). It will dominate Warsaw's skyline for decades to come, like it or not. I like it cause it is unique: only Moscow, Kiev, NY have buildings of this type and so in-your-face. It leaves none indifferent, but I also understand why some people for historical reasons might view it as an eyesore. Well, everyone has their own tastes.

facade: ok
form: i like this kind of older highrises in East Europe :)
points: 9

For me it's just one of the Warsaw symbols. After adding the clock on the top it looks much more friendly.

during the day- 7/10

during the night- 10/10

so.... 8.5/10

Very beautiful! 9.5/10!

8.5/10
I like how detailed this building is, far from being just a common box. It's very distinctive, and hard to mistake for anything else.
:)

I like my good old palace. The PKiN is something more like only a skyscraper, maybe not a typical high-rise at the European scale. It is not very hard to find some beauty in this messy building also known as Europe's ESB.

8.5

PKiN its not beauty, but its a BIG symbol !
This building its like Eiffel Tower for France or Empire State Building for USA.
vote for this is very hard.

Buildings are often used as symbols of wealth and power. This certainly signifies the latter.

8/10

Truely an unintellectual design.

1/10

I'm historically conditioned, so can't
stand this monster. There used to
be a regular part of the city there.
But now we have a big whole in the middle
of the center with an agressive intruder.
Unfortunately, it's too late to tear it down.

5/10 (only because of the nice oak doorways inside
and my favourite cinema).

Great Russian Tower
Ranking proves it has stood the test of time and was some thing of the grand future when it was built
I love this style

9/10


Really nice and imponent

This one is so ugly that I like it. It makes me laugh and that's a good thing. 7.0

Originally posted by Trances

Great Russian Tower

Actually it's half-Polish ;) It was designed by Russian architect (Lev Rudnev), but in cooperation with Polish architects, and many elements of the Palace were inspired by Polish architecture :yes:

too commie and stalinist. they should build something in warsaw that can beat this old-timer.

6

This building is as well the symbol of communist times as the symbol of Warsaw and style in the arts. I heard that inspite it isn't the only one building of this type, it is the most beautiful of them :) This Palace is a gift from russian people for Poles - I think it was good idea because this strong and powerful architecture will last for a long time. I won't give mark to it ( it's the highest building in my country so i can't be objective:D ) if I gave it would be 10 :)

This building is still my favorite of all time. It has a lot of sentimental value for me and I remember when I first saw it at the age of eight I was amazed. It is an icon of Warsaw and I will always associate it with the city. The fact that the huge square around it is being developed is definitley good news because it was a waste of space in the center of the city. The development will only add to the glory of this building. Also, the fact that this building is Stalinistic doesn't take away from it. It is a good reminder of Poland's oppressive past and why we are joining the EU. 10/10

very good design....8.5

do you find it beautiful??
4/10

I don't like the top
5/10

i don´t like it 7

8/10

This is photo from the official site of the Palace of Culture and Science - PKiN (http://www.pkin.waw.pl)
http://www.pkin.waw.pl/photos/fullsize/id,48.html

Good 10/10

they can tell different that it is ugly and old but never will has right, excellent building, power beats from him 8/10

Ok I like this old classic looking building but seems a little too short and plain because of the clock face that is too white and this building could of been a lot better and how it looks at night doesn't wow me. 6.5/10

with every year i like it more and more. Now its 8.5

PkIN and surroundings by @svir
http://www.svir.neostrada.pl/NG3.jpg

6.5/10 - I don't like it.

Overall, an impressive landmark with a classic neo-gothic appearance.

Just two points though: It needs a bit more bulk on the top and crown, to give more impression of size and height. Also, the facade could do with a cleanup.

9/10

6/10

7.0

9/10
Warsaw classic.

is awesome...shame the meaning it has for the polish peole, but still they can look at it with a new positive view :)

9/10

Wasn't it one of the tallest buildings in the 50's? 8

8/10 Typically East european :)

super duper 9

Very nice and historical. It captures the whole feel of Warsaw in one building. I give it a 10/10. :yes:

9/10, one of the most stunning skyscrapers of Europe and linked with history. It's more than only a tall building and it's quite unique.

Wasn't it one of the tallest buildings in the 50's? 8
Yes, it was :yes: In 1955, when Palace of C&S was finished, it was #10 in the world and #2 in Europe:

1. Empire State Building, NYC, 448 m(1931)
2. Chrysler Building, NYC, 319 m (1930)
3. American International Building, NYC, 290 m (1932)
4. Trump Building, NYC, 282 m (1932)
5. One Prudential Plaza, Chicago, 278 m (1955)
6. GE Building, NYC, 259 m (1933)
7. Woolworth Building, NYC, 241 m (1913)
8. Moscow State University, Moscow, 240 m (1953)
9. Terminal Tower, Cleveland, 235 m (1930)
10. Palace of Culture & Science, Warsaw, 231 m (1955)

It's a beatiful historic building, I give a 9!

just imagine that some years ago it used to be white! :D
now it's dunno - beige ?

http://plfoto.com/zdjecia/585868.jpg
http://www.greatestcities.com/3349pic/433/CP2433.jpg/palac10.jpg
http://polskaludowa.com/dziwolagi/jpg/pkin_budowa.jpg

for me - big piece of sh**

9.5
Great building

8.5/10

Good shape :okay:

Beautiful tower. 9/10.

definite 10/10

Yes, it was :yes: In 1955, when Palace of C&S was finished, it was #10 in the world and #2 in Europe:

1. Empire State Building, NYC, 448 m(1931)
2. Chrysler Building, NYC, 319 m (1930)
3. American International Building, NYC, 290 m (1932)
4. Trump Building, NYC, 282 m (1932)
5. One Prudential Plaza, Chicago, 278 m (1955)
6. GE Building, NYC, 259 m (1933)
7. Woolworth Building, NYC, 241 m (1913)
8. Moscow State University, Moscow, 240 m (1953)
9. Terminal Tower, Cleveland, 235 m (1930)
10. Palace of Culture & Science, Warsaw, 231 m (1955)

Wow NYC used to dominate the worlds tallest oh why cant it be the same :cry: . Anyway i went to this tower in 2003 its very nice and has excellent views of warsaw on a good day. 9/10 I think of it as the Empire State building of Poland

8/10 Nice for a Soviet era building.

How can you go past Stalinist architecture. Nothing about the prick's politics, but those buildings are at the same time awesome and aweful.

9/10.

8.

6/10

Communist style :D

7/10

6/10

10/10 the best skyscraper in warsaw. I just can't imagine warsaw without this massive monumental piece of stone. Everything around this palace is only some kind of a background which only accents its beauty. Whilst people of warsaw are trying to build tall scrapers around it (want to cover its view because usually they hate it) , it nevertheless is becoming more and more stunning with every finished construction. If I am to say that I love Stalin, I just say I just hate to love him for this structure - ingenius. Warsaw inhabitants, if you don't understand me just imagine how boring would warsaw be without PKin?...?!

8/10

Palace of Culture and Science is now 50 years old!

Under construction photos:

http://www.pkin.pl/files/g/palac6.jpg

http://www.pkin.pl/files/g/palac7.jpg

http://www.pkin.pl/files/g/palac4.jpg


http://www.pkin.pl/photos/fullsize/id,93.html

http://www.pkin.pl/files/g/palac10.jpg

And other historic photos:

http://www.pkin.pl/files/g/palac3.jpg

http://62.29.248.133/prv/warsaw/pictures/0963b.jpg

http://www.michau.se/pics/other_pics/warszawa/skany/kupiecki_1960/pkin_1_web.jpg

7.5/10

I like this old style! It´s a part of Warsaw- I love it

10/10

nice building 9/10

this is my favourite old and classical building of the world it has excellent extructure and nice line to complete the building with a interesting spire

7/10

7/10

9/10

This one is a bit difficult to vote.
The design itself is not bad but the general feel is a bit depressing. It would help if the building was clad in lighter tones and surrounded by supporting buildings of the same style and comparable heights. It does look like a relic of an ancient time. Still there are a lot of appealing details in this tower.
5.5

A stong 10.

One of the Western world's truly great high-rises. Amazing it was built during the Stalinist era.

It is as lovely as can be, with architectural flourishes abounding! Graceful, commanding, inspiring:)

7/10

6.5/10

8.5/10 ;)

PKiN December 2005

by REDHATT
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7124/img67987gj.jpg

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6233/img68086nu.jpg

by kafarek
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6949/pana45do.jpg

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/9387/pana11sb.jpg

by sojuz
http://static.flickr.com/35/72079223_6678358692_o.jpg

8 this looks like Moscow State University

8/10

7.5/10

7/10.

7/10

I agree that it looks communist but is that bad? I'm a sucker for these decade old vertical palaces. this is a good example. not the best, but damn good. 8.5/10 for the building now in modern day. 10/10 for back in the day in some of those older pics like the arial and the one with the tanks. What a strong powerful beauty. damn impressive

7/10

i dont know but sometimes Soviet building lacked feeling of home.

this is one of them. looks cold.

I hate the colour...i think this one is the worst copy of 1950 stalinistic USSR architecture production...Moscow University impose more and go far...but i like this building picture at night...it look like restored Alexander lighthouse in Alexandria :) for this picture 5/10

8/10

6.5/10

I like this style of building 8.5/10

I may not like this neogothic style and communistic background, however this building became a part of Warsow and it's make warsaw skyline unique...so my rate is 8

7/10

I love this one:) 10/10

10/10

8/10
:)

8,5 / 10

8/10

6/10 :okay:

10/10

8/10

nice building

I was one of those people who did not like this building. But year after year it has grown on me, and it looks great now, much thanks to other skyscrapers being built in the area. And the Libeskind tower will itself be a gorgeous scraper but will aswell increase the value and appearance of the PKiN, Palace of Culture and Science tower :D And it makes the Warsaw skyline unique indeed ;) I give it a tenner out of ten ;) 10/10 :)

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/9541/4267130on.jpg
http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4934/pkin9ct.jpg
http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/4942/1796321vy.jpg
http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/5209/dc124ye.jpg
http://images2.fotosik.pl/67/jyo74re7fqunfnck.jpg
http://groundy.webd.pl/warszawa/Nowe/panorama29.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/provisore/Skyline105.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/provisore/Skyline142.jpg

http://www.brodyaga.ru/images/Poland/Warsaw%201.jpg

http://www.fotoajans.com/cities/warsaw/warsaw_palace_of_culture.jpg

terrible design 6/10

9/10 because I live in Poland :P

9.5/10

I like this one.. Just found out about it a few weeks ago searching through pics of Warsaw.. 9/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

8.5/10.

^^ 8.5/10 :)

9/10
Way more imaginative than almost any of today's type skyscrapers.

9/10

9.5 / 10

8.5 nice!

5/10

it looks like esb meets big ben. pretty amusing and awkward at the same time. and yeah pretty massive. 7/10

7/10cos it is too wide, If it'd be 40 meters taller would be 9/10, like someone sometime somewhere said.. a BIIIG wedding cake

10/10!

9/10

It's one of the tallest buildings in Europe, it's a symbol of Warsaw. And it's so beautiful! I really don't care it's commie...

Great!

hehe classic :cheers: 8/10

9 / 10

Timeless classical elegance.

10/10 This building is story of Warsaw!!

10/10! Love this type of skysraper!

I love it!!

Timeless and beautiful palace.

Looks a little bit of the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain!

10!

http://czarnota.org/gallery/albums/warszawa/zmiany/___Srodmiescie/PKIN/2006_12_02_-_001_-_Palac_Kultury_i_Nauki.jpg
By Pstrykacz

9/10

I love it.

A very rare design. A 7 out of 10.

Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw now is an official relic and monument.

9/10

Nice building, 7/10

8.5/10

3/10 pretty old stuff

I love these stalinist palaces :) The top of the building is a little bit too small and it could be cleand but i give 9/10

Too wide and :tiasd:
5/10

9.5 :) Made in USSR!!! :okay:

10/10 great building :)

7.5/10

This building is too massive and too heavy, almost ridiculous with all those communist sculptures mixed up with neo renaissance & neo gothic details. But still it is impressive and therefore I give it 8/10

10/10 nice building :cheers:

8/10

9.5/10

very very nice

symbol of Warsaw 8/10

4/10

6/10

i dont like this kind of scrapers...4/10

4/10

10/10.

symbol of Warsaw 8/10

it's not :)

10/10

Symbol of Warsaw but ugly and it's a symbol of soviet time in Poland.
Never mind I give 7 points.

it's the icon of the Warsaw's skyline now.
Next negerations in Poland will be thankful to the current one because this skyscraper wasn't destroied.

blah...... 4

Beautifull at night, and it's not a simple skyscraper, it's the symbol of the Communist era of Poland.

And inside it's very very wealthy : a Theater, a swimming pool, restaurants etc...


9/10

7/10

Like those neo-gothic TYPE things/design.

Its quite similar to moscows Triumph Palace, but Triumph Palace is better.

7/10

But Triumph Palace was Construction end 2006 .
On July 22, 1955 the completed Palace of Culture and Science was officially 8th tallest building in the world.

10/10

http://www.tunliweb.no/Bilder_SM/_album_warsaw/a1.jpg

Cannot resist wickedly evil-looking gothic buildings...http://www.emoticons4u.com/evil/229.gif 8.0

like it very much:)... 9

9/10 every year it looks better and better. maybe thanks modern surrounding

6.5

http://www.elektroinstalacje.pl/psoma/UserFiles/Image/palac_kultury.jpg

7/10

nice huge complex, at night it does look better 7.5/10

5/10

10/10 :)

Incredible!!

9/10

It's makes Warsaw uniqe :) at night looks cool :) 9/10

9/10

It's so Soviet I love it

7/10

LOve it 8.5/10

I like this skyscraper-palace combo

5/10

8.5/10

7 - Love the lighting

5/10

7/

my favourite building in pl ; d

8/10 perhaps the best that ever came from communism. :)

Nice but I wish it was taller.
8/10

9.5/10

8/10

6,5/10

10/10 nice :):)

8/10. I`ve been up there a few years ago. And walked around this building in 15 minutes....

06/10

10/10

10/10

8.5/10

omg this thing is massive

8/10

10. Excellent building. Regards.

9/10

7/10

perfect 10/10. indeed the symbol of warsaw

Pic from 50's during final stages of construction. Although i don't like this building too much, on this pic Warsaw (still ruined after war) seems to look very nice. Reminds me bit of american cities in 30s

http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/6/5258/z5258696X.jpg

Who doesn't love those classic Stalinist wedding cakes? 7.5

6.5 8th Moscow sister :)

7.5/10

voted 7/10

10/10:nuts:

8.5/10

Super classic architecture. Best skyscraper in East Europe

7/10

9/10

Classic building. 8.5/10

7.5

at night it looks cool, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a huge penis in the center of warsaw... 8,5 ;p

10/10
I love this building :)

8.5/10

7/10

As somebody has written- my attitude towards this building is "love and hate". It was raised to become a monument underlining Soviets' dominance on Poland (and that wasn't best historical period for us) but on the other hand... IMO it got better proportions than similar scrapers in Moscow :)

8/10

7/10